Mail-bag-handling device



Sept. 30 1924.

- A. FORD MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 30

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A. FORD MAIL BAG HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 50 1922 INVENTOR flrZkwForaL,

WITNESSES ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

FATEFLNT ARTHUR FORD, OF floLLlNgVILLE, ALABAMA.

MAIL-BAG-HANDLING DEVICE.

Application filed January 30, 1922, Serial No. 532,913.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Collinsville, in the county of Dekalb and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag-Handling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mail bag-handling devices, an object of the present invention being the provision of a device whereby mail matter may be delivered to and received from a station by a moving train without contact of the delivering and receiving apparatus.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of this character, which will hold the mail matter in position against wind pressure created by a swiftly moving train, yet permit of its ready release when engaged by the receiving device.

Another object is the provision of a mail handling device which includes a station apparatus positioned so as to prevent interference by a freight car, automatic means being provided for permitting the station apparatus to move downward to an out-ofthe-way position, as soon as the mail has been delivered and received.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings F igure 1 is a transverse section through a portion of a mail car illustrating the use of the apparatus. 1

Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the station apparatus looking in an opposite direction from that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the station apparatus.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable bracket.

Figure 6 IS a detail view showing the means for holding the mailbag in position.

Figure 7 is a similar view of the receiving member.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

Renewed July 7, 1924.

wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character C indicates a car carried apparatus and S, the station apparatus.

The car carried apparatus comprises a frame 10 which is hingedly secured to the side of a mail car 11 adjacent the door and is provided with an operating handle 12, by means of which the frame may be swung into and out of position for use. The frame 10 includes a vertical arm 13 and a horizontally arranged arm 14, the outer end of which is provided with a downwardly extending extremity 15 which is spaced from and disposed substantially parallel to the arm 13. Extending through openings in the arms 13 and 15, are gripping members 16 which are formed of spring arms connected at one end and secured to the free end of a spring arm 17, as indicated at 18. Thesespring arms 17 have one of their ends secured to the frame 10 and act to normally hold the gripping member 16 in an outward position. The inner ends of the gripping members 16 are split so as to permit of the insertion of rings 19 carried by the mail pouch :20. The gripping members 16 are substantially oppositelyarranged and when the rings 19 at the opposite ends of the pouch 20 are engaged within the said members, the spring arms 17 will yieldingly hold the rings in their engaged position by closing the open end of the grippingmembers, the arms of which contact with the ends of slots 21 provided in the arms 13 and 15 and through which the gripping members pass. The car apparatus C is hingedly mounted upon the side of the car 11 and may be swung from a position at right angles to the car to a position substantially parallel with said car, so as to be out of the way. When extending outward from the car for use, the pivotal move ment of the apparatus in one direction is limited by stops 21, which are secured to the arm 13 and engage the side of the car.

Extending from the lower end of the arms 13 and disposed horizontally is a receivin arm 22, the outer end. of this arm being provided with a flared open mouthed hook 28 which is positioned to receive the mail bag held by the station apparatus S. Secured to one side of the mouthed hook 23 and extending inwardly, is a tongue 24:

whose inner free end is spaced from the walls of the mouth, so that when a mail bag enters the mouth of the hook it will be directed inward behind this tongue and thereby held in position.

The station apparatus includes a verti cally arranged standard 25, which is suitably positioned adjacent the railroad track. Pivotally supported by the standard is an arm 26, to one end of which is secured the delivering member 27. This member 27 is somewhat like the member 14 and includes substantially parallel arms 28, to which are secured gripping members 29 of the same character as the members described in connection with the car apparatus C. The mail has: is suspended in a vertical position between the arms of the member 27 in the path of the hook 23 which is carried by the arm 22.

Extending upwardly from the upper end of the member 27 is a book 30 whose construction is similar to the hook 23 and which is positioned to receive the mail bag carried by the member 14.

As previously stated, the arm 26 which carries the member 27 is pivotally supported upon the standard and for this purpose there is'adjustably mounted upon the standard a bracket 31. The bracket includes a split sleeve 32 which receives the standard'25 and which may be bolted together to hold the bracket in place. The bracket further includes an arm 33, to which the arm 26 is pivotally mounted as shown at 34c. The arm 26 may thus swing downward upon the pivot 34- when the apparatus is not in use. 1

For the purpose of holding the arm 26 elevated so as to support the mail bag in the path of the car apparatus and to bring the hook into position to engage a mail bag carried by said car apparatus, the

bracket 31 is provided with spaced lugs 35 and carried by the arm 26 for engagement between these lugs is a latch. 36. The latch is pivotally mounted upon the arm 26 as indicated at 37 and is provided with an offset arm 38, having an upturned extremity 39. The'free end of the arm 38 will be engaged by the car carried mail bag and when the latter is released from the carried apparatus by its engagement with the hook 30, the said bag will cause the latch to move upon its pivot 37 and be disengaged from the lugs 35. A laterally and downwardly extending. guide member 41 is carried by the bracket 31 and the arm 26 is received between this member and the standard 25, when the said arm 26 is in elevated position. 7

\Vhen the apparatus is arranged in position for use, the parts are so positioned that the receiving member or hook- 23 of the car apparatus 0 will first engage the mail bag carried by the station apparatus. Immediately following this engagement, the receiving member 30 of the station apparatus engages the mail bag of the car apparatus, whereupon, the latch 36 is actuated to release the arm 26 and permit the station apparatus to lower.

The invention issus'ceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. 7

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. The'combination with a mail bag handling apparatus including bag supporting members, of means for removably securing a bag in position, said means including a spring gripping element open at one end and slidable through an opening. in said apparatus and a spring arm secured to the pposite'end ot the gripping member for normally closing the open end ofthe same.

2. In a railway mail bag apparatus, a supporting standard located adjacent the track, means for mounting the apparatus upon said standard for vertical swinging movement, a latch for holding the apparatus in elevated position upon the standard and means connected to the latch and located in the path of thecar carried device. whereby the latch will be released to permit the apparatus to move downward.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa tu re.

ARTHUR FORD 

